Why is it that nothing brings out the asshole in people like the season of joy and goodwill toward men? Seems quite ironic, but it happens every year. It's like there's an air of negativity over the whole city. People are rude and in a constant rush and amazingly selfish -- if there's a toy their kid has to have, and if they have to cut people off on the road, park in a handicapped spot, and elbow another parent out of the way to get the last one, they're okay with that, as long as they get what they have to have.

I've almost been in two serious car accidents because someone got impatient and pulled out onto a main road while I'm going 45 mph, forcing me to slam the brakes to avoid a collision. Both times my horn was met with a litany of cursing and a middle finger from the other driver. That kind of stuff happens sometimes, but it seems to skyrocket with the holiday crowds. I saw two men on the verge of a fistfight over a parking spot at the mall.

People who've lost their jobs are spending more than they can afford, because they feel like they have to.

Many people find themselves depressed during the holidays, for a variety of reasons.

Why do we do this?

The next time the Grinch tries to steal Christmas, I think I'll take a break from the second precept and give him a hand.

"The serene and peaceful mind is the true epitome of human achievement."-- Ajahn Chah, Living Dhamma

"To reach beyond fear and danger we must sharpen and widen our vision. We have to pierce through the deceptions that lull us into a comfortable complacency, to take a straight look down into the depths of our existence, without turning away uneasily or running after distractions." -- Bhikkhu Bodhi

I don't think that would be breaking the precept as it would be to prevent people doing harm I thoroughly despise this holiday.

This offering maybe right, or wrong, but it is one, the other, both, or neither!Blog,-Some Suttas Translated,Ajahn Chah."Others will misconstrue reality due to their personal perspectives, doggedly holding onto and not easily discarding them; We shall not misconstrue reality due to our own personal perspectives, nor doggedly holding onto them, but will discard them easily. This effacement shall be done."

There is a middle way (I won't claim capital letters for it ) - peaceful non-participation. Don't get caught up in it. Don't blame those who do. Just observe it. Realistically, most of us have family obligations to negotiate, but much the same applies there - balance others' needs with your own. You might end up singing carols with people you only see once or twice a year but the positives of bringing people together outweighs the negatives of giving lip-service to a tradition you no longer support.

Because it's a Christian tradition. Which is actually and absorption of the older pagan winter solstice celebrations, that mark the death and rebirth of the sun.

Personally, I would say that most of the problems come from the over-commercialization of this holiday. Promoting greed and excess consumption under the banner of joy and goodwill is bound to give rise to a great deal of negativity.

I try to not let it bother me, as this too shall pass.

Anyway, happy solstice!

"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." -- C. S. Lewis

I wallow in the joys of the Saturnalia while Dionysian rapture festoons through my foppish spirit; watching the Nutcracker Ballet, reveling in Bach's Christmas Oratorio and St. Matthew's Passion and other truly TRADITIONAL Christmas compositions.

Furthermore, all my Christmas shopping is done by the end of September. Forewarned is forearmed. Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead.

Jolly St J

Author of Redneck Buddhism: or Will You Reincarnate as Your Own Cousin?

The virgin's birth is found in countless mythologies from all around the world that far, far predate Christianity with most of the same familiar associated symbols. Most of Christianity predates Christianity by thousands of years...much of it word for word. Most Christian symbols also predate Christianity by thousands of years - such as the Crucifixion story and imagery found in most ancient mythologies with nearly identical imagery, which is a symbol/story reflecting a specific recurring astronomical occurrence related to the movement of the Sun and its relationship to the galaxy.

Most religions have simply forgotten the original meaning of most of their stories, imagery, beliefs - reducing them to hollow simulacrum...in fact, a strong case could be made that the religious perspective is itself a symptom of this amnesia - what's left after original meaning that was connected to the entirety of phenomenal existence is lost. And they are _not_ interested in remembering.

Vision is MindMind is EmptyEmptiness is Clear LightClear Light is UnionUnion is Great Bliss

Several years ago I decided that Christmas should be renamed "Consumerfest", at least here in the USA.It has little relationship to its original significance, so I disregard it for the most part.Certainly there are a few that still commemorate the birth of their religion's founder and his teaching.

The wild frenzy of competitive driving and shopping is a lesson to me about themeaning of compassion, or the apparent lack of it. It says something also aboutgreed and the encouragement of attachment to material things. However, I do toss some money into the kettle for the Salvation Army bell ringers.That will help the homeless and needy I hope.-m

I'm not usually a fan of holiday music, but I stopped at the grocery store and they had a string quartet playing the most lovely classical Christmas fare. Was very nice.

I agree with Kim. Opt out of the rat race. I tell friends I don't do the gift giving thing, and for the few gifts I do get I either buy from the internet, shop unusual/ out of the way local stores, or hit some of the great arts and crafts fares that pop up at this time of the year.

"As I am, so are others;as others are, so am I."Having thus identified self and others,harm no one nor have them harmed.

spending time with condescending prats is what I despise, but I have a plan, one reason to leave and I'm off!

This offering maybe right, or wrong, but it is one, the other, both, or neither!Blog,-Some Suttas Translated,Ajahn Chah."Others will misconstrue reality due to their personal perspectives, doggedly holding onto and not easily discarding them; We shall not misconstrue reality due to our own personal perspectives, nor doggedly holding onto them, but will discard them easily. This effacement shall be done."

I love Xmas. All the family travel to spend time together, it's mid-summer school holiday time, most businesses allow staff to have the time off between Xmas and New Year, the weather is hot, the surf is great.

But it is the coming together of family and friends who may not see each other very often, if at all, during the year - the setting aside of any conflicts, the sharing of a meal, the hugs and gifts.

Xmas is a fairly non-religious cultural festival here - not a specifically Christian one. Even my muslim friends and I exchange greetings and gifts.

Xmas ~ I love it!

mettaChris

---The trouble is that you think you have time------Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe------It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---

You know, I too love Christmas, but I live in my own little "bubble." I tend to ignore the rest of the world. I have a friend who calls me raving "Did you hear what that SOB Obama did now?" I don't know why he asks, because I, in my bubble, always answer, "Well, no." Then I make polite sounds while he gets it off his chest. It's my kind act for the day.

I like it here in my bubble. People always sing to each other, are pleasant, and the little elves bring me tea and flowers.

J

Author of Redneck Buddhism: or Will You Reincarnate as Your Own Cousin?

I like Christmas for the most part. I do all my shopping online and don't bother with Walmart and malls. Instead I get the gifts delivered to my door. I can even get them wrapped before they are shipped. The problem I'm having this year is I'm snowed in. We got a huge winter storm, and I don't know if I'll be able to deliver those gifts on Friday. That will suck to say the least. Bah humbug to this crappy weather!!!